A Guide to Writing an Administrator CV, with Tips

Key Sections of an Administrator CV

The key sections of a CV for administrative jobs are your CV header, a CV summary, your work experience, education and skills. There are also several optional sections. These sections mirror those included in most CVs, but the way you present this information, and the CV structure you choose, can help to differentiate you from other candidates.

If you’re an experienced administrative assistant, you might decide to use a traditional, reverse-chronological format for your CV. This emphasises your work experience, which is typically the most important part of any CV. However, if you’ve never worked in admin before or this is your first job, you can showcase your credentials by using a functional CV format. This draws attention to your skills, rather than your work experience.

Here’s some detailed guidance on what to include in each section of your administrative CV:

CV header

In your CV header, add your full name as a heading in bold or a larger font. Include your contact details (email address and phone number) and an indication of your location. It’s not usually necessary to include your full address, or any personal information such as your age, gender or nationality. In the UK, it’s also best to refrain from adding a personal photo. You might consider adding a CV headline, to summarise your best qualities and what you bring to the role. If including this, add it directly under your name.

CV summary

The CV summary provides an introduction to the document and summarises your key skills and experience. Write two or three sentences that introduce your standout qualities to draw in the reader and make them want to find out more. If you’re less experienced, you might wish to write a CV objective, which focuses on your career ambitions and explains why you’re applying for the job.

See below for an example of a CV summary for admin roles:

Work experience

Your work experience section is your chance to share any relevant jobs you’ve had in the past. List each role that’s relevant to the application, and explain your responsibilities and achievements. Start by adding your job title, the name of the employer, its location and the dates you worked there. Underneath, add a few bullet points explaining what you did in the role, with particular emphasis on your achievements or performance. Use strong action words that reflect the keywords in the job description, to maximise the impact of this section.

Take a look at an example entry from an admin CV work experience section below:

Education

In your education section, list your highest or most recent qualifications, While administrator jobs don’t tend to have strict educational requirements, this section is still important, particularly if you have a qualification that’s relevant to the role. For each qualification, add the name and level of the award, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study. If you have space, you could also add some details of any awards you won, any areas of specialism or any clubs or societies you were a member of while studying.

Here’s an education entry from an example CV for an administrator job application:

Skills

In your skills section, list any hard and soft skills you have that are relevant to administrative or secretarial roles. You can either list these in one combined list or in a separate list of hard and soft skills. Pay attention to the job description and make sure your list of skills reflects those listed as essential or desirable.

Here are some skills you might consider adding to your administrator CV:

• Computer literacy, including Microsoft Office, accounting software and project management apps
• Oral and written communication skills
• Organisational skills
• Confident telephone manner
• Multi-tasking
• Interpersonal skills
• Note-taking and meeting minutes
• Diary management
• Ability to work under pressure
• Teamwork

Optional sections

There are several optional sections you can add to your CV, if they help you to show you’re a suitable candidate. These include certifications and training you’ve undertaken, foreign languages, volunteer work and hobbies and interests. Add any of these that can help support your application and demonstrate the skills or experience listed in the job description.

Tips for Writing an Administrator CV

For help writing an administrator CV that really makes an impact with employers, follow these simple tips:

• Choose the most suitable CV format: select the CV format that best suits your experience levels and skills. If you’re an experienced administrator, a traditional, reverse-chronological CV will showcase your work history most effectively. If, however, you’re lacking relevant experience, a functional, or skills-based CV might best.
• Tailor your CV: tailoring your CV for every job application helps to keep your applications fresh and ensures you specify more clearly how you meet the job description. It can also help you to avoid using an outdated CV that doesn’t accurately reflect your current skill level and experience.
• Use keywords from the job description: when tailoring your CV, add keywords from the job description to catch the attention of the reader and show you’re a good fit for the role. Keywords can also help you to pass the ATS stage of the recruitment process.
• Quantify your achievements: rather than simply listing your responsibilities in previous roles, aim to show the impact you made by adding evidence such as performance review scores, customer satisfaction ratings or company KPIs.
• Keep it brief: aim for a CV length between one and two pages of A4, in a clear, readable format. If you can edit your CV down to a single side of A4, this is even better.
• Proofread your CV: spelling and grammar errors can seriously undermine your chances of success. Review your CV closely and correct any errors before sending your application.
• Use an attractive CV design: adding design elements, such as colour accents, columns, icons and headers in different fonts can really make your CV stand out from the crowd. CVwizard offers an easy-to-use online CV maker to help make your CV look as professional as possible.

Key Takeaways for an Administrator CV

For your best chance of success with your administrator job application, pick a CV format that best showcases your experience and skills and tailor your CV for every application, including keywords that match the job description. Use a professional CV design that enhances the look of your document and helps you to stand out from other applicants. CVwizard’s CV templates can help you create an eye-catching CV in minutes. Sign up today to get started with your CV, and read more about how to perfect your job applications with our library of CV articles.